Conditioning ferrous alloys into cracking susceptible and fragmentable elements for use in a well

Abstract

A technique includes providing a tool to be deployed in a well to perform a downhole function. The downhole function requires a minimum structural integrity for an element of the tool. The technique includes forming at least part of the element from a ferrous alloy and charging the alloy with hydrogen cause the element to be more prone to cracking than before the hydrogen charging.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method used within a well comprising:
 providing a hydrogen charged downhole element comprising a ferrous alloy; and 
 adhering zinc to the downhole element, such that the ferrous alloy and zinc form active galvanic cells upon disintegration of the hydrogen charged downhole element within the wellbore. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: forming a coating of the zinc on the downhole element. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: forming the zinc into a template; and using the template to etch a fracture pattern on the downhole element. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of using the template to etch comprises etching a hydrogen charge material of the downhole element. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus used within a well, comprising:
 a downhole element adapted to be deployed in the well, the downhole element comprising a hydrogen charged ferrous alloy and zinc, which form galvanic cells upon disintegration of the element within a wellbore. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the zinc comprises a coating on the element. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the zinc comprises a template used to etch a fracture pattern in the downhole element. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the element comprises a perforating gun or a flow control device.